Hospitals throughout the Midwest, specifically in Missouri and Illinois, are treating an unprecedented number of children with a specific strain of enterovirus, EV-D68.
"We believe the unusual increases in Kansas City and Chicago may be occurring elsewhere over the weeks ahead and we want people to be on the lookout," Anne Schuchat, MD, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said, according to the Sacramento Bee.
Ten states have contacted the CDC for assistance in investigating the outbreak.
According to the CDC, EV-D68 infections are less common than infections with other enteroviruses, and the strain has been rarely reported in the U.S. since it was identified in 1962. EV-D68 causes mild to severe respiratory illness and likely spreads through coughs, sneezes and contaminated surfaces.
The CDC laid out the following guidance for healthcare professionals about the EV-D68 strain:
- Be aware that EV-D68 is a potential cause of clusters of severe respiratory illness, particularly in young children
- Consider lab testing when the cause of infection for severely ill patients is unclear
- Report clusters of severe respiratory illnesses to state and local health departments
"We really do think that clinicians throughout the country need to be on the alert for increases in severe respiratory illness and consider this in their differential diagnosis," Dr. Schuchat said, according to the Bee.
There is no specific treatment for EV-D68 infections, according to the CDC, and there are no antiviral medications available either. To prevent the spread of infection, the CDC recommends washing hands with soap and water, avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, avoiding kissing, hugging and sharing utensils with infected people and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces.